Over Half of Most Statistics Reported in News are Inaccurate
NEW YORK-- According to a recent research study, 76%, or nearly half, of all statistics reported in the news are reported inaccurately.
Researcher Amos L. Grimes looked at over 100,000 news stories reporting statistics and found that 125 stories accurately reported statistical data.
Despite the large number of accurate stories, Dr. Grimes was unimpressed.
"125 may seem like a lot, but it's a tiny percentage of 100,000." 100,000 is a very large number which, according to Dr. Grimes, is "substantially larger" than 125.
Grimes also says that many news accounts offer erroneous analysis of the statistics.
Many research studies examine the link between two behaviors or characteristics. According to Grimes, news accounts of these studies frequently error in concluding that there is a cause and effect relationship.
"A study may suggest, for instance, that there is a correlation between people who floss their teeth and people who have a longer life expectancy. But this does not mean that people live longer because they floss their teeth," said Grimes.
(For more on this topic, see "Floss Your Way to a Longer Life," September 2005. )
Grimes: "This is simple math that is routine for any non-American ninth grader."
Despite results he characterized as "dismal," Grimes acknowledged that there were signs of improvement.
"In 2005, we found 125 articles that accurately reported statistics. In 2003, we found zero, absolutely none."
So what accounted for the twelve-fold rise in accuracy?
"It's not a twelve fold rise," replied Grimes.
What then, accounted for the 125% rise in accuracy?
"It's not a 125% increase," said an exasperated Dr. Grimes.
"Look, when you compute the increase, you are taking the difference between the 2005 figure and the 2003 figure, and then dividing it by the 2003 figure. And since the 2003 figure was zero, the percentage can't be computed. It's not meaningful."
Grimes may downplay the results of his study as "not meaningful," but his study appears to bolster the contention that accuracy in reporting is on the rise.
Researcher Amos L. Grimes looked at over 100,000 news stories reporting statistics and found that 125 stories accurately reported statistical data.
Despite the large number of accurate stories, Dr. Grimes was unimpressed.
"125 may seem like a lot, but it's a tiny percentage of 100,000." 100,000 is a very large number which, according to Dr. Grimes, is "substantially larger" than 125.
Grimes also says that many news accounts offer erroneous analysis of the statistics.
Many research studies examine the link between two behaviors or characteristics. According to Grimes, news accounts of these studies frequently error in concluding that there is a cause and effect relationship.
"A study may suggest, for instance, that there is a correlation between people who floss their teeth and people who have a longer life expectancy. But this does not mean that people live longer because they floss their teeth," said Grimes.
(For more on this topic, see "Floss Your Way to a Longer Life," September 2005. )
Grimes: "This is simple math that is routine for any non-American ninth grader."
Despite results he characterized as "dismal," Grimes acknowledged that there were signs of improvement.
"In 2005, we found 125 articles that accurately reported statistics. In 2003, we found zero, absolutely none."
So what accounted for the twelve-fold rise in accuracy?
"It's not a twelve fold rise," replied Grimes.
What then, accounted for the 125% rise in accuracy?
"It's not a 125% increase," said an exasperated Dr. Grimes.
"Look, when you compute the increase, you are taking the difference between the 2005 figure and the 2003 figure, and then dividing it by the 2003 figure. And since the 2003 figure was zero, the percentage can't be computed. It's not meaningful."
Grimes may downplay the results of his study as "not meaningful," but his study appears to bolster the contention that accuracy in reporting is on the rise.
posted by Ish at 2:59 PM
1 Comments:
Now, if we could just get the People-In-Power to tell the truth, we'd really have something to crow about!
Post a Comment
<< Home